Needle leveler and latch opener



y 1946. o. FREGEOLLE NEEDLE LEVELER AND LATCH OPENER 2 Sheets-She et 1 Filed March 23, 1945 V v 7 5 J VV/// w////// Z v Q mum? 4? NE: T Emma. f. 6 W 6 8 L i u y 1946- o. FR EGEOLLE 2,400,636

7 NEEDLE LEVELER AND LATCH OPENER Filed March 23, 1945 y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z/YVZNTHR: fia'a'sazzg Patented May 21, 1946 UNI TED STATES PATENT OFFICE NEEDLE LEVELER AND LATCH OPENER Oscar Fregeolle, Central Falls, R. I., assignor to Hemphill Company, Central Falls, R. I., a corporation of Massachusetts Application-March 23, 1945, Serial No. 584,307

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a needle leveler and latch opener for circular, independent needle, knitting machines or for any other type of machine for which it is adapted. Since this invention is particularly useful on two cylinder machines, it will be shown and described herein in relation to such type of machine.

As is well known, knitting machines of the type having opposed coaxial cylinders employ a needle 'having a hook and latch at each end, the upper hook and latch being used for knitting in the lower cylinder and the lower hook and latch for knitting in the upper cylinder. Such needles are operated by sliders in each cylinder which are adapted tobe coupled to the corresponding hook of the needle.

Whenever it becomes necessary to transfer a needle from the lower to the upper cylinder, the' upper latch must be open so that the corresponding slider in the upper cylinder can engage the upper hook of the needle. If a needle has no yarn loop in its hook, as when starting up on bare needles or when beginning a new stocking of string work, there is nothing to insure that the latch will open. Therefore, a latchopener is required. As is well known, such an opener must enter the very small space between the 'hook and the latch. Consequently, the needles must all be positively positioned at a certain level and also in correct radial alignment or the latch opener may miss this space and strike the needle or the latch with resulting damage to the needle and to the fabric.

A double ended, slider operated needle isnot likely to reach this level automatically because, since it must be possible to uncouple the slider from the needle, a certain amount of play between the slider and the needle hook is essential. Therefore, one needle may be a little higher than another. By the present invention all of the needles are brought to a definite level relative to the position of the latch opener so that perfect operation of the latch opener is assured.

One form of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

Fig. 1 is a view in section on the line |-l of Fig. 2 showing the relation between a double ended needle and its lower cylinder slider and how the needle leveler functions to level all of the needles.

Fig. 2 is a view from outside the needle cylinder of the same parts; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are a plan and elevation respectively of the needle leveler and latch opener and their operating mechanisms.

In Fig. 1 the lower and upper cylinders of the machine are shown at l and 2, respectively. In the lower cylinder is a needle 3 having an upper hook 4 and latch 5 and a lower hook B and latch l. The needle is connected to a slider 8 in the lower cylinder by means of hook 9 which engages with hook 6 of the needle. As is well known, the slider below hook 9 must be cut away somewhat so that it can be coupled to and uncoupled from the needle. A ledge Ill results. In consequence, there is a space II on which the needle may be anywhere so that the level of the upper hook is uncertain within these limits.

Since the latch opener has necessarily a, fixed position and since the space between the hook and latch of the needle is very small any such variations in needle position would be disastrous because the latch opener instead of entering the proper space might hit the needle or the latch with consequent damage to the needle and fabric.

To prevent this the present invention was made. It consists primarily of a needle leveler I 2 composed of a mounting plate 13 and a leveling element It. This latter element M consists of a horizontal plate, the underside of which is curved as shown at Hi to substantially correspond with the curvature of the end of the upper needle hook. Its position is such that it overlies the path of the needles at the height at which the needles must be positioned for proper operation of the latch opener and also so that it will preventthe upper ends of the needles from tilting outwardly from their slots.

Below the slider 8 is a. cam l5having an easy slope i1 and of a height suflicient to raise the sliders sufllciently to bring the needles into contact with surface l5 of the needle leveler when the lower hook tr the needle -is resting against the ledge ID of: the slider. In consequence, every needle will be positioned at exactly the same height so that a latch opener positioned directly below it must open the latches and' cannot possibly strike the needle or its latch. Since this device is intended to operate only uponlower cylinder needles and usually only Just before they are transferred to the upper cylinder, means must one end of another bell crank 23.

2' crank 22, the other efid or which ens ses with is connected by suitable operating levers indicated in Fig. 4 by the rod 24 by means of which the mechanism is operated to withdraw or project the needle leveler and latch opener whenever desired.

I claim:

Bell crank 23 1. For a knitting machine'having'a cylinder with slots for needles, a needle leveler which includes means for. raising needles to a predetermined level, means engageable with the hooks of needles tor preventing needles so raised from moving to a needles radially in their cylinder slots.

2. For a knitting machine a combined needle leveler and latch opener which includes a latch opener adaptedto open the, latches of needles when they are raised to acertainlevel, means for raising aid needles to thatleveland means associated with the latch opener, for preventing the needlesso raised from moving above said level.

3. For a knitting machine a combined needle higher-level and means enga eable" with the hooks of needles for aligning said raising saidneedles to'that level and means assoelated with the latch opener for preventingthe needles so raised from moving above said level,

said latch opener and said needle leveler being a retractable.

' 4. For a knitting machine having two'coaxial superposed needle cylinders and needles adapted to be transferred from. one cylinder totheother,

a needle leveler adapted to be positioned above said needles when in the lower cylinder and means for raising said needles into contact with said leveler whereby all needles so raised will be' positioned at the same level.

5. For a knitting machine having two coaxial "superposed needle cylinders and needles adapted to be transferred from one cylinder to the other,

a-needle leveler adapted to be positioned above leveler and latch opener which includes a latch opener adapted to open the latches of needles I when they are raisedto a certain level, means for 7 needles for aligning said needles radially in their cylinder slots.

. .oscAR FREGEOLLE.

Disclaimer 2,400,636.0scar Fregeolle, Central Falls, R. I. NEEDLE LEVELER AND LATCH OPENER. Patent dated May 21, 1946. Disclaimer filed Feb. 13, 1948, by the assignee, Hemph'ill Company. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 2, 3, 4, and 5 of said patent.

[Oflicial Gazette March 23, 1948.] 

